Trip for canceling-machines.



F. G. JAHNx TRIP FOR CANCELING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED OC1-23,1912.

1 :1 MEWS I Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

55 J [IlllH II WWW] L I L JLI Wit names 8 W00 wfoz m: I j @51 @Hommw F. G. JAHN.

TRIP FOR CANCELING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 23, 1912.

1 13Q Q71 a Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNTTED STATE% PATENT @FFJICE.

FREDERICK J'AHN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL- IPOSTAL SUPPLY COMPANY OF NEW YORK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW YORK.

TRIP FOR CANCELING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application filed October 23, 1912. Serial No. 727,384.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. JAHN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trips for (kneeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a canceling machine of the type commonly used for marking mail matter. These machines operate at high speed, in fact it is quite common to cancel a thousand letters in a minute.

It is evident that where a complete operation of the machine is performed in such a small fraction of a second that various problems of inertia arise, and it is not possible to produce a machine without taking these factors into account as forming a very important part of the action. This even affects the feed. For example a thick and heavy letter will not start as quickly as a light thin letter and the frictional surface of the paper varies with each piece presented. Many other conditions make the feeding problem a diflicult one, so that it has been found in practice that the best results are secured by a rotary feed which permits the letters, cards or sheet to feed forward in a continuous procession, but without any attempt to secure absolute regularity in the feed. In other words, the sheets and cards are allowed to feed as best they can, following along either close together or more separated according to chance, and the printing part of the mechanism is adapted to be tripped when the sheet or card arrives at a certain point, and by the action of the sheet or card itself. This imposes special ditliculties in the control of the printing and tripping mechanism. But without this, in view of the high speed of the sheet or card and its necessarily frail nature, and in view of the necessarily considerable inertia present in any printing mechanism, it is evident that the problem of so starting the printing mechanism into vaction and generally controlling its movement is bound to be a difii cult one.

By the present invention an improved trip is provided which is adapted to operate at very high speed and with the frflilest sheets and cards such as checks, which have practically no stiffness or strength either edgewise 0r flatwise.

lVith this object in view the invention consists in the improved canceling machine as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of a canceling machine embodying the principles of; this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View partly in section, showing a sheet or card just arrived at tripping position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the sheet or card somewhat farther advanced. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the canceling mechanism. Fig. 6 shows the clutch in vertical section.

Constructions embodying the invention will include a suitable rotating power shaft or die hub on which the printing or marking roll is mounted.

The best constructions embodying the invention will include a continuously rotating gear 10 loose on a vertical axis, having a friction clutch as shown for example in Fig. 6. This friction clutch is shown composed of a pair of cork or similar friction disks 11, 12 pressed into contact with the side faces of the gear 10, and constrained between collars 13, 14 rotating with the printing roller 15 and its die hub 16.

As a means for keeping the friction disks in contact with the gear 10, a pin 17 is illustrated, the same being movable along the longitudinal axis of the die hub 16 in a slot thereof, and normally pressed against the collar 13, by a spring 19 and plunger. 20. The tension of. the spring 19 can be regulated by an adjustment screw 21 bearing on of the machine, the die hub being held stationary by a stop or trip mechanism.

Secured upon the die hub is a projection.

2 and a desirable construction is illustrated in which a collar 26 having two flanges 27, 28 is secured upon the die hub,

the upper flange 28 being cut away in part,

as hereinafter described, to form a cam. To form th s prmectron, a roller 25 is shown,

loose on a pin extending between the flanges 27 and 28, such pin being fixed therein. The die hub will of course rotate in any suitable bearings 30 and 31.

There will also be provided an arm cooperating with the projection 25 on the die hub to arrest the rotation of the die hub and hold the latter normally in a certain fixed position. For this purpose a construction having a comparatively large freely rotatable disk or roller 33 on a swinging arm 34, is best adapted to the requirements, thisdisk intercepting the movement of the projection 25'so that the strain under normal conditions is in line with the pivot of the arm 34 and there is no unbalanced force tending to displace the arm and permit the die hub to start'into rotation. Means are however provided for swinging the arm laterally when a card or sheet arrives at a certain point, and a slight lateral displacement of the arm creates an unbalanced force tending to further displace the arm and permit the die hub to rotate. The normal position of the arm is shown in Fig. 1. The laterally displaced position of the arm is illustrated in Fig. 3, and the returned position of the arm preparatory to-intercepting more than one complete rotation of the die hub is shown in Fig. 4. The lateral displacement of the arm 34 just referred to, and its return to normal position are accomplished by the action of the machine, and the conditions mentioned in the preliminary part of the specification are particularly lmportant and controlling in this action. That is to say, the means for displacing the arm and returning it to normal position must takeinto account both the very light and frail character of sheets such as bank checks, and also the very high rapidity with which these machines operate.

The first condition makes only a very small tripping force obtainable when the sheet arrives at a certain position so that any tripping lever must be very easily displaced, and the second condition makes it necessary to have a powerful "and positive action of the machine parts since the inertia of metal parts which move back and forth in a very small fraction of a second is very considerable. Any mere springs cannot be relied- 'upon for the moving force since springs have only a certain force and at high spee s the mere inertia of the metal parts of the machine may be so great as to make it impossible for-any ordinary spring, unless exceedingly heavy and powerful, to furnish the necessary force. It is therefore part of the purpose of the present invention toelimmate heavy sprin s, this being done par:

ticularly in view 0 the fact that.any spring acts with a force which being constantly exerted, makes it diflicult for any frail sheet or card to produce, the actuation of the 'machine. Any spring imposes resistance -not only by its own tension, but also by sible force will be sufficient even' for the highest speeds of the machine.

Constructions embodying the invention will include a cam 28 acting on. an arm 36 preferably forming part of the swinging arm 34 carrying the roller 33. The cam 28 is so cut away as to permit the arm 36 to swing laterally only at a certain position of the die hub, namely its normal position of rest. It will be observed from Fig. 1 that the cam is cut away to permit the lateral movement of the arm in this position. The lateral movement of the arm is commenced as later described by a check or sheet or card, and after its commencement the action of the projection 25 against the surface of the disk or roller 33 throws the arm still further out with a positive and powerful application of force due to the force of the rotation of the die hub itself. The arm therefore moves laterally with promptness and certainty but it has 'no sooner moved far enough to permit the projection 25 to escape and the die hub to start during a very small part of the rotation of the die hub. Thereafter the roll or disk 33 i is not only in a position to intercept the 1' rotation of the die hub after its single printing revolution, but is furthermore locked" in this intercepting position by a concentric peripheral surface of the cam whichlies ticularli noted that it is locked against any reboun vided for: 1st, a very small displacement of the arm is produced by the sheet' or card to placement is immediately and. by a positive means completed to a suflicient extent by the starting of the die hub. 3rd, the arm 1s instantly and positively. returned before the die hub has completedmore than a fractionpositively;

of its rotation. 4th, the arm is returned to the position where it intercepts against the arm. It will be par vv Thus, the following functions are pro- Y be canceled. 2nd, this initial slight dis'-. 1

more than one rotation of the die hub and, L

is locked in this conditions pertaimng to high speed are satisfied and there isno reliance placed on position. Thus allof the 1' to assist in the control of the arm,

nine-a Springs. A very light spring may be used move on unimpeded. By the time the arm but its power is inappreciable.

Consideration will now be given to the conditions which permit the tripping to be done with a very frail check or card.

' It is understood that the sheets or cards travel edge up with considerable speed, and are forwarded between rapidly revolving rolls. Between a pair of such rolls 40 projects a finger or trip 41, which is connected to swing or move in any suitable manner and most conveniently by a rock shaft 4-2 carrying an arm 43 and on which the finger is mounted. This rock shaft 42 turns in a suitable fixed bearing 14. It is part of the action of this trip or finger to be displaced in the direction of its length, and for this purpose an improved sliding connection has been provided which permits a very free movement of the finger, and by a character of guide which is protected against dust and dirt and the evaporation of lubricant. In this way a very free movement of the finger will be obtained, and since the finger is very light and has only a small movement, a very light spring may be used to control its movement. As particularly shown in Figs. 3, 4: and 5 the finger carrying arm has an upwardly extending flattened portion 4.5 which is grooved at at on one side. The finger itself is undercut so as to be of generally inverted ll shape, ahd has a guide way 417 fitting into the groove 46 so as to furnish a guide for reciprocation in the di rection of its length. By virtue of the U shape ofthe finger, and further by reason of thin side plates 48 on the finger, the latter is virtually housed against dust and dirt and the evaporation of oil. A small spring 50 connects a stud 51 on one end of the finger with a relatively fixed stud 52 on the finger carrying arm.

It will now be imagined that a thin sheet or card is passing rapidly through the machine, and arrives in the bight of the two rolls 40 at the) location of the finger At this instant the leading edge of thepaper is stifiened by the rolls and is in the best condition to exert a force on the finger which it does momentarily. llhe direction of this force is such that there is no tendency put upon the finger to yield backward in the direction of its length, and accordingly the finger can only swing in the path of movementot the check, carrying with it the arm and trip. In the case of frail checks the finger may be only slightly moved in this way, before the check loses its stiflness by reason of its projection too far out of the rolls 40. But since the arm is rotated positively after having once been started the finger is drawn forward out of the way of the advancing check immediately after it has been started, and the check is free to a ward in the sheet or card has passed. Its spring then acts to project it forward in the path of the next advancing sheet or card, which movement is only a very small fraction of an inch and is easily accomplished by a light spring on account of the small distance of movement and the smallness and lightness of the finger to be moved. Thus by the return of the finger in this way the entire mechanism is restored to its original andnormal condition and is ready for a repetition of the actions as alreadv described.

l/Vhat is-claimed is I 1. In a canceling machine, a finger carrying member, a finger thereon, a die hub having a projection, an arm adapted to be displaced by said finger carrying member and normally intercepting said projection, and means actuated by a moving part of the mechanism for positively returning said arm when the latter has been displaced.

2. In a canceling machine, a finger cara finger thereon and indepenrying member,

the direction of its length dently movable in thereon, a arm adapted to be displaced by said finger carrying member and normally intercepting said projection, said die hub and arm cosperating to positively continue the displacement of said arm and thereafter return it to said die hub and arm cooperating to positively continue the displacement of said arm and thereafter return it to normal position.

4. In a canceling machine a finger carrying member, a finger thereon, a die hub having a projection, an arm adapted to be displaced by said finger carrying member and having a roller intercepting said projection, and means actuated by a moving part of the mechanism for positively returning said arm ,when the latter has been displaced.

5. In a canceling machine, a finger carrying member, a finger thereon, a die hub having a projection, an arm adapted to be displaced by said-finger carrying member direction of its length until the die hub having a projection, an

Kilt) 'ment of said projection, and means actureturning said arm when it has been dis i flat face of the sheet fed during such return ated by a moving part of the mechanism for positively returmng said arm when the lat ter has been displaced.

6. In a canceling machine, an oscillating finger. cal rying member, a finger longitudinally slidable thereon, a die hub, an arm interceptin'g' the rotation of said die hub, means .lt'or returning said arm when it has been displaced, and a yielding means for permitting the finger to-yield against the fiat face of the sheet fed during such. return movement of the arm, and projecting such finger at. the termination of such return 5 movement.

7. In a canceling machine, a finger carrying member, a finger yieldable thereon, a die hub, an arm having a roller intercepting the rotation of said die hub, positive means actuated by a moving. part-of the mechanism for returning said arm when it has been displaced, and a yielding means for permitting the finger to yield against the flat face of the sheet fed during such return movement of the arm.

8. A canceling machine, a finger carrying member, a finger longitudinally movable thereon, a die hub, an arm intercepting the rotation of said die hub, a cam for positively placed, means for locking the arm in returned position,and means ,for permitting the finger to move tangentially across the movement of the arm. a 9. In a canceling machine, a finger carrying member, a finger independently movable thereon, in the direction of its own length,'a die hub, an arm intercepting the rotation of said die hub, -means actuated by e the'die hub for continuing the movement of from its initial position, means for returningsaidarm when it has been displaced, and means for permitting the finger to move tangentially across theflat face of the sheet fed during such return movement of-the arm.

10. In acanceling machine, afinger car rying member, a finger longitudinally slidabel thereon, a spring for lightly projecting said finger, a die hub, an arm intercepting the rotation of said die'hub, and a cam on said die hub for returning said arm when it has been displaced, whereby, the finger moves'tangentially across the flat face ofthe sheet fed during such return movement ofthearm.

11. In a canceling machine, a finger carrying member, a finger movable thereon, a die hub having a cam with a cencentric peripheral portion, an arm intercepting the rotation of saiddie hub, andan arm engaging said cam and the concentric'peripheral portion thereof, whereby said arm is: positively returned andlockedin its returned position.

12. In a canceling machine, a finger carrying member, having an;- upward flattened extension, and a finger havlng an inverted U shape and housed to cover said extension and-sliding thereon.

13. In a canceling machine, a finger car- I rying member, havingv an'upward flattened extension, i a fingerhaving an inverted U shape and housed to cover said extension and sliding thereon, and a springfor normally projecting said fingenj Signed at New Yorkin the county of New York and State of New York this 21st day Of October A..D. 1912. w a t I I FREDERICK G.JAHN. Witnesses:

EQA. Smemi, ALFR D W. PROCIORF 

